Camping unit

ABSTRACT

A camping unit which provides an ice chest, storage compartment, water compartment and stove in a compact, light-weight and insulated body. The water compartment is adjacent the ice chest and the storage compartment so that the water is maintained cool by the ice in the ice chest and helps maintain the storage compartment cool, which preferably is adjacent the ice chest for cooling purposes. The water compartment may extend alongside the stove compartment to help keep it cool. The camping unit also includes legs to elevate the combination and wheels and ground support means for movement of the camping unit.

United States Patent Bonin Feb. 18, 1975 CAMPING UNIT Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell [76] Inventor: Tracy Earl Bonin, Rt. 1, Box 321-C, Attorney Agent Flrm james Weller Conroe, Tex. 77301 [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 424,909 A camping unit which provides an ice chest, storage compartment, water compartment and stove in a compact, lightweight and insulated body. The water com- [52] us CL 'f 312/236 126/25 S 7 2 partment is adjacent the ice chest and the storage [51] Int C1 A4,") 77/08 compartment so that the water is maintained cool by [58] Fie'ld 312/236 the ice in the ice chest and helps maintain-the storage 312/249 compartment cool, which preferably is adjacent the ice chest for cooling purposes. The water compart- [56] References Cited ment may extend alongside the stove compartment to help keep it cool. The camping unit also includes legs UNITED STATES PATENTS to elevate the combination and wheels and ground ,769 2/1908 Campbell 312/236 X support means for movement of the camping unit. 1,040,451 10/1912 Stockton et al 126/25 R 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] FEB I 8 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 CAMPING UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The need for a camping unit which provides an ice chest, storage compartment, water compartment and stove in a compact, liqht-weight and insulated body has been recognized by sportsmen. Such a device may be used for camping, hunting, fishing, boating, vacation and other outings. Applicant is presently aware of US Pat. Nos. 2,530,166; 1,266,588; and 3,613,872.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The clamping unit of the present invention generally comprises an ice chest, storage compartment, water compartment and stove combined into a compact, lightweight and insulated body. The water compartment is adjacent the ice chest and the storage compartment so that the water is maintained cool by the ice in the ice chest and helps maintain the storage compartment cool, which preferably is adjacent the ice chest for cooling purposes. The water compartment may extend alongside the stove compartment to help keep it cool. Additionally, the camping unit includes an additional area of storage beneath the stove, legs which may 'be used to elevate the camping unit, and ground support means and wheels for easy movement of the camping unit.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a camping unit comprising a combination of an ice chest, storage compartment water compartment and stove in a compact, light-weight and insulated body.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a camping unit in which a water compartment, ice chest and storage compartment are arranged so that the water in the water compartment is maintained cool by ice in the ice chest, the cool water in the water compartment helps maintain the storage compartment cool, and in which the storage compartment is located adjacent the ice chest to also assist in maintaining the storage compartment cool.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a camping unit in which the water compartment is adjacent an ice chest compartment, a storage compartment and a stove compartment so that water in the water compartment assist in cooling or moderating the temperature in the storage and stove compartments.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of such a camping unit which includes legs which may be used to elevate the camping unit and the provision of ground support means at one end of the unit and wheels at the other end of the unit for easy and ready movement of the camping unit.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of such a camping unit which includes accessible storage space beneath the stove.

Still other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a presently-preferred embodiment of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings forming a part of the disclosure herein, like character references designate like parts throughout the several views, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, in section, of a camping unit according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view, partly in section, of the camping unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right elevational view of the camping unit of FIG. 1 which shows the top lid opened, the folding table in use and the legs extended;

FIG. 4 is a right elevation view of the camping unit of FIG. 1 with the top lid closed, the folding table not in use, the legs folded, and the water compartment in an alternative position;

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of a camping unit according to the invention which shows another alternative location of the water compartment and stove compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY-PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the camping unit includes an ice chest 10, the storage compartment 12, and the stove compartment 14, which includes the stove 15. Additionally, the camping unit includes a water compartment 16 as shown in FIG. 2.

The ice chest 10 and storage compartment 12 are provided with the trays 17 which serve as additional storage surface.

As shown in FIG. I, the burner of the stove 15 is supplied with gas from a compressed gas tank 18 located in the stove compartment 14 below the stove 15. The compressed gas tank 18 is located along the back wall of the stove compartment 14 in order to provide as much additional storage space 19 as possible under the stove 15 in the stove compartment 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior side of the stove includes a door 20 which is hinged to the lower portion of the body. The door may be hinged to allow it to be opened the desired amount, for example, 90 or l. The door allows access to the additional storage space 19 and the compressed gas ta nk l s.

As shown in FIG. 2, the top of the unit includes lids for access to the various compartments, here shown as two separate lids, one lid 22 covering the ice chest 10 while the other lid 24 covers the storage compartment 12 and the stove compartment 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 24 over the stove compartment 14 and storage compartment 12 may be opened to one of two alternate positions. In the first position, the lid 24 is held in a vertical position by the use of a side lid 26. Alternatively, the lid 24 over the stove compartment 14 and storage compartment 12 may be allowed to rotate 270 towards the back when opened. A cover plate 27 is located above the storage compartment 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Any number of lids and means of opening them may be utilized as desired.

The water compartment 16, which in'the camping unit shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises the entire front section of the camping unit, includes a water inlet 28 and a water outlet 30. FIGS. 4 and 5 show alternative positions for the water compartment. The water compartment 16 is located in the bottom portion of the camping unit in FIG. 4 and entirely within the ice chest portion of the camping unit in FIG. 5. A further alterna tive, which helps to minimize heating of the water in the water compartment 16 by the stove 15, is placing the water compartment 16 along the side of the ice chest 10 and storage compartment 12 only. The alternative locations for the water compartment allow for may be folded under the camping unit as shown in FIG.

4. Latches 36 are provided to hold the folded legs 34 in place.

When the legs 34 are not in use, the camping unit will sit upon the wheels 38 located at one end of the unit and ground support means 40 located at the other end of the unit. Thus, the camping unit may be rolled on the wheels 38 when the legs 34 are not in use. Handles 42 are provided on both sides of the camping unit for use when moving the camping unit.

A folding table 44 is located on the front side of the camping unit as shown in H0. 3. The position of the table 44 when not in use is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The ice chest 10, storage compartment 12, stove compartment 14 and water compartment 16 are formed by the partitions and side wall, end wall and bottom body members shown in the drawings. Preferably, the body, body members partitions, covers and the like are formed of a lightweight insulated material, such as polystyrene.

Advantageously, the ice in the ice chest cools the water in the water compartment 16. The storage space is located adjacent the ice chest and between the ice chest 10 and the stove compartment 14. This advantageously minimizes transmission of heat from the stove compartment 14 to the ice chest 10, and the water in the water compartment 16 is cooled to an extent by the ice in the ice chest 10, which cooled water assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage compartment 12 or in cooling the stove compartment 14, or both, when the water compartment is located adjacent to the storage compartment 12 or the storage compartment l2 and the stove compartment 14.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others therein. While a presently-preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purposeof disclosure, changes may be made in the camping unit within the spirit of the invention as defined in the Claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A camping unit comprising,

an insulated body having bottom, end wall and side wall body members,

a first partition in the insulated body spaced from one of the end wall body members forming a first compartment.

a second partition in the insulated body spaced from the other of the end wall body members and the first partition forming a second compartment between the first and second partitions and a third compartment between the second partition and the other of the end wall body members,

the first, second and third compartments adapted for use as an ice chest, a storage compartment and a stove compartment,

a third partition in the insulated body forming with at least one of the body members a water compartment, the third partition forming a wall of the compartment used as the ice chest, the ice chest having a wall forming at least a portion of a wall of the storage compartment whereby water in the water compartment is cooled by ice in the ice chest and the cooled water assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage compartment, and

lids on the insulated body closing the providing access to at least the compartments used as the ice chest and the storage compartment.

2. The camping unit of claim 1 where,

the third partition extends along the length of and forms walls of the compartments used as the ice chest and the storage compartment whereby water in the water compartment is cooled by ice in the ice chest and the cooled water assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage compartment.

3. The camping unit of claim 1 where,

the third partition extends along the entire length of the side walls and forms walls of the first, second and third compartments whereby ice in the ice chest cools water in the water compartment and the water in the water compartment assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage and stove compartments.

4. The camping unit of claim 1 where,

the third partition extends along the entire length of the bottom body member and forms bottoms of the first, second and third compartments whereby ice in the ice chest cools water in the water compartment and the water in the water compartment assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage and stove compartments.

5. The camping unit of claim 1 where,

the camping unit includes retractable legs which may be used to elevate the camping unit and ground support means at one end of the camping unit and wheels at the other end of the camping unit for easy and ready movement of the camping unit.

6. The camping unit of claim 1 where the camping unit includes accessible storage space beneath the stove of the stove compartment. 

1. A camping unit comprising, an insulated body having bottom, end wall and side wall body members, a first partition in the insulated body spaced from one of the end wall body members forming a first compartment, a second partition in the insulated body spaced from the other of the end wall body members and the first partition forming a second compartment between the first and second partitions and a third compartment between the second partition and the other of the end wall body members, the first, second and third compartments adapted for use as an ice chest, a storage compartment and a stove compartment, a third partition in the insulated body forming with at least one of the body members a water compartment, the third partition forming a wall of the compartment used as the ice chest, the ice chest having a wall forming at least a portion of a wall of the storage compartment whereby water in the water compartment is cooled by ice in the ice chest and the cooled water assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage compartment, and lids on the insulated body closing the providing access to at least the compartments used as the ice chest and the storage compartment.
 2. The camping unit of claim 1 where, the third partition extends along the length of and forms walls of the compartments used as the ice chest and the storage compartment whereby water in the water compartment is cooled by ice in the ice chest and the cooled water assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage compartment.
 3. The camping unit of claim 1 where, the third partition extends along the entire length of the side walls and forms walls of the first, second and third compartments whereby ice in the ice chest cools water in the water compartment and the water in the water compartment assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage and stove compartments.
 4. The camping unit of claim 1 where, the third partition extends along the entire length of the bottom body member and forms bottoms of the first, second and third compartments whereby ice in the ice chest cools water in the water compartment and the water in the water compartment assists in maintaining a cool temperature in the storage and stove compartments.
 5. The camping unit of claim 1 wheRe, the camping unit includes retractable legs which may be used to elevate the camping unit and ground support means at one end of the camping unit and wheels at the other end of the camping unit for easy and ready movement of the camping unit.
 6. The camping unit of claim 1 where the camping unit includes accessible storage space beneath the stove of the stove compartment. 